Vacuum Microwave Waste Dehydration System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current waste disposal methods face challenges in reducing costs, time, and pollutant emissions, particularly with organic and inorganic waste, which often result in environmental pollution and odor issues.

Innovation Solution

A method involving low-temperature dehydration under high vacuum conditions combined with microwave treatment, which reduces waste volume by 50-90% and stabilizes organic waste into a reusable product like fertilizer or biomass, using a system with a low-cost heat source, microwave heating, and vacuum condensation to minimize energy consumption and emissions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional waste disposal methods are used, then waste can be removed, but high costs, long processing time, and pollutant emissions occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewaste conversion speedVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical parameters of the waste treatment process by applying microwave radiation (electromagnetic field parameter) and operating under vacuum conditions (pressure parameter). These parameter changes enable rapid water evaporation and waste concentration, achieving 50-90% volume reduction in just 2-3 hours, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and processing time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes phase transition of water from liquid to vapor state through microwave heating under vacuum conditions. This phase transition mechanism enables rapid moisture removal and waste concentration without thermal degradation, achieving fast waste conversion while minimizing processing time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #36Phase transitions

2Productivity

If conventional waste treatment is applied, then waste can be processed, but energy consumption is high

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewaste conversion efficiencyVSAvoidenergy expenditure
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent operates the evaporation process under vacuum conditions (reduced pressure parameter), which lowers the boiling point of water and enables evaporation at lower temperatures. Combined with microwave direct heating (electromagnetic parameter), this achieves rapid waste concentration with minimal energy input, resolving the contradiction between productivity and energy consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces conventional thermal heating systems with microwave radiation for heating. Microwaves provide direct volumetric heating of the waste material, eliminating the need for external heat transfer through chamber walls and significantly reducing energy consumption while maintaining high conversion efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Object-generated harmful factors

If conventional waste disposal methods are used, then waste can be removed, but pollutant emissions and bad odours are generated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepollutant emissionsVSAvoidenvironmental pollution
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent conducts the waste treatment process under vacuum conditions, creating an inert environment that prevents oxidation reactions and formation of harmful emissions. The vacuum environment also contains odorous vapors, preventing their release into the atmosphere, thus resolving the contradiction between pollutant emissions and environmental pollution

Inventive Principle:
Principle #39Inert atmosphere (Inert environment)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses vacuum-assisted evaporation to transition water from liquid to vapor phase, efficiently separating moisture from waste solids. This phase transition occurs in a controlled vacuum environment where odorous substances are trapped and condensed, preventing their emission and eliminating environmental pollution

Inventive Principle:
Principle #36Phase transitions

4Volume of moving object

If waste volume is reduced, then disposal costs decrease, but processing must be rapid and efficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewaste volumeVSAvoidconversion speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes microwave-induced phase transition of water to vapor, enabling rapid evaporation and volume reduction of waste. This phase change mechanism achieves 50-90% volume reduction in 2-3 hours, simultaneously improving both waste volume reduction and conversion speed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #36Phase transitions

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies vacuum conditions (pressure parameter change) to lower the boiling point of water, enabling rapid evaporation at lower temperatures. Combined with microwave heating, this achieves fast volume reduction while maintaining high productivity, resolving the contradiction between waste volume and conversion speed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The method achieves rapid waste conversion with minimal energy expenditure, eliminating pollutant emissions and odors, producing a compact, odourless, and stable product that can be reused as fertilizer or biomass, with reduced residual waste and wastewater, and low system maintenance costs.

Implementation Method 1

under high vacuum conditions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVacuum: Vacuum

Implementation Method 2

treating the latter with a source of microwaves

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMicrowave heating: Microwave Radiation

Implementation Method 3

condensing the released vapour

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCondensation: Condensation

Data Source

PatentEP3148683B1Method for transforming waste and system for performing said method
Publication Date: 2020.03.18 THEMIS SPA
  • EP3148683B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The present invention concerns a method for concentrating, and/or stabilizing and/or converting waste and/or products having an organic/inorganic matrix, with the aim of obtaining a product that is directly reusable, for example in a fertilizer or in a biomass, in a short time, with little energy being required and without releasing pollutants in the environment. In particular, the method of the present invention comprises the dehydration of the organic/inorganic matrix waste and/or products inside a reaction chamber under high vacuum conditions, as well as the condensation of the vapour obtained from said step. The present invention also refers to a plant for implementing said method.